Ski binding part

ABSTRACT

There is provided a sole engaging means for a ski binding comprising a pair of bent-lever boot sole engaging components, same being each centrally pivoted to a housing and extending respectively from a point ahead of the approximate center of the boot sole laterally outwardly to points adjacent either side of such sole. An adjustable resilient anchor is applied to mutually adjacent ends of said bent-lever sole holders, and a pair of rollers for engaging the boot sole are applied at respectively outer ends thereof. Further rollers positioned to engage approximately the end of the ski boot sole are each positioned respectively on each of said levers between the pivot points thereof and the mutually adjacent ends thereof. By such construction, the longitudinal pressure on the mutually adjacent end by the resilient anchor and on the further rollers by the ski boot sole tends to pivot each of said levers to draw the outer ends together and thereby center and firmly hold the ski boot sole therebetween. Lateral pressure by the ski boot sole against either of said rollers will operate the lever associated therewith against the resilient anchor for rotating the lever sufficient to release the ski boot. The device is readily adjustable, minimizes friction opposing release and is minimally responsive to variables such as wetness, snow, dirt and the like.

United States Patent [191 Tschida et a1.

[ 1 Sept. 2, 1975 SKI BINDING PART [75] lnventors: Josef Tschida; Franz Hrachowitz,

both of Vienna, Austria [73] Assignee: Gertsh AG, Zug. Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 425,889

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 18, 1972 Austria 10785/72 [52] U.S. Cl. 280/l1.35 T

Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song Altorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [57] ABSTRACT There is provided a sole engaging means for a ski binding comprising a pair of bent-lever boot sole engaging components, same being each centrally pivoted to a housing and extending respectively from a point ahead of the approximate center of the boot sole laterally outwardly to points adjacent either side of such sole. An adjustable resilient anchor is applied to mutually adjacent ends of said bent-lever sole holders, and a pair of rollers for engaging tlhe boot sole are applied at respectively outer ends thereof. Further rollers positioned to engage approximately the end of the ski boot sole are each positioned respectively on each of said levers between the pivot points thereof and the mutually adjacent ends thereof. By such construction, the longitudinal pressure on the mutually adjacent end by the resilient anchor and on the further rollers by the ski boot sole tends to pivot each of said levers to draw the outer ends together and thereby center and firmly hold the ski boot sole therebe'tween. Lateral pressure by the ski boot sole against either of said rollers will operate the lever associated therewith against the resilient anchor for rotating the lever sufficient to release the ski bo ot. The device is readily adjustable, minimizes friction opposing release and is minimally responsive to variables such as wetness, snow, dirt and the like.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SK! BINDING PART FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a ski binding component which has symmetrically arranged. generally bent-lever shaped sole holders which are each pivotable about suitable axes. and each abuts with one arm the sole of the shoe and with the other arm engages a common resiliently loaded structural part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A ski binding part which has bent-lever shaped levers which are pivotable about axes is already known. One arm each of said two levers is spring loaded and thus the two other arms are urged against the ski boot and same is thus held. To assure a secure holding, the abutment of the arms must of course take place over a selected area of the ski shoe. Upon occurrence of an overload in a lateral direction, one of the levers is pivoted and the ski boot slides off therefrom. In this construction. there occur large frictional forces which results in corresponding wear. Furthermore the frictional forces which occur are a function of the nature of the surfaces, namely whether wet, icy, snow covered or dirt covered and the like, and hence will vary from time to time so that at a given adjustment a release of the ski boot can take place at very different actual stresses. Thus the ski boot can be released either too soon, too late or not at all. all of which causes danger of injuries.

Also a ski binding part has already been suggested in which swingable levers engage the sole of the ski boot both with their ends and also with a roller which is provided respectively along the length of the levers. These sole holders are not bent levers but instead further levers are arranged on the axes of the rollers, and the other common hinge point of such swingable levers are connected to a spring. Here too. in the ease of a release. sliding friction will occur at the ends of the levers which is similarly strongly affected by outside influences. A further disadvantage consists in that in this construction it is not possible to adjust the base position of the levers to various ski boot soles.

The purpose of the invention is to produce a ski binding component in which the friction between the ski boot and sole holding part is minimized and is maintained also substantially constant during a release operation. This is attained by providing that for each bentlever shaped sole holder the one arm engages the boot sole with two rollers which are supported rotatably about at least approximately vertical axes and wherein the one roller is provided more in the lateral and the other roller more in the front zone of the boot sole.

Thus only rolling friction occurs during a release operation which is not only smaller than sliding friction but is also substantially less altered by outside influences.

In one particular construction, in the condition of use the distance between the axes of the two rollers which are provided in the front zone of the boot sole is less than the distance between the axes about which the sole holders are pivotably supported. Through the pressure ofthe ski boot on the rollers. there is created practically a torque which endeavors to swingthe sole holdcrs inwardly which causes the rollers provided at the ends of the sole holders to be pressed laterally against the sole of the ski boot. The ski boot is in this manner not only held securely but is also practically automatically centered in the required central position.

Advantageously for the selective adjustment of the distance between the roller carrying arms of the sole holder, there are provided other arms between the spring loaded structural part and a setscrew which is arranged in the binding housing. This permits an adjustment to various ski boot soles to take place in that by rotating the setscrew the sole holders are pivoted accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter of the invention is illustrated exemplarily in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a construction, wherein FIG. 2 is a central cross-sectional view and FIG. 3 is in the upper half a top view and in the lower half a crossseetional view along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference now to FIG. 1, two bent-lever shaped or bell crank sole holders 1, 2 are supported pivotably about the axes 3. Each sole holder carries on one arm two at least approximately vertical rods 4, 5 on which rollers 6, 7 are supported. The ski boot 8 is supported with its front zone on the rollers 7, the axes 5 of which are spaced a smaller distance from one another than the axes 3 of the sole holders 1, 2. Through this, a moment is created which tends to swing the sole holders 1, 2 about the axes 3 inwardly so that the rollers 6, 7 provided at the ends of the arms I press firmly and laterally onto the ski boot.

For adjusting to various ski boot sole shapes, the normal position of the sole holders 1, 2 can be changed. For this purpose the arms 2 of the sole holders extend between a spring loaded sliding member 10 and the head of a setscrew 11. The external thread 11A of the setscrew 11 is threadedly engaged with the internal thread in the opening 12A in the housing 12. By rotating the setscrew 11 in the binding housing 12, depending on the direction of rotation, the head of the setscrew 1 1 will move either to the left or to the right and the sole holders will be swung into the dashdotted or dashed position.

In the construction according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the angled sole holders 1, 2 support in the same manner rollers 6, 7 which are rotatably supported about axes 4, 57 The pivot axes 3 are fixed to the binding housing 12. Here not only the arms 2 of the sole holders engage a bent portion I3 of the slide 10 which bent portion is provided at one end, but action is also applied from the bent end 13 onto an arm 14 of a holddown clamp 15. The clamp 15 is supported pivotably about a horizontal axis 16 which is provided in the binding housing 12 and can be adjusted in height to accommodate various thicknesses of boot soles by means of the screw 17.

The spring 9 is supported at one end on the binding housing 12 and at the other end on a spring plate 18. Said spring plate 18 is movable longitudinally of the housing part 24 but nonrotatably by a screw 19. The unthreaded portion of the screw 19 itself is supported in a hole in a bent portion 20 of the sliding member 10. The external thread 19A of the screw 19 is received in the internally threaded opening 18A on the spring plate 18. By rotating the screw 19, the spring plate 18 will move and change the tension of the spring 9. The spring 9 urges the shoulder 19B of the screw into engagement with the bent portion 20 to bias the sliding member to the left and effect a maintaining of the bent portion 13 in engagement with the head of the setscrew 11. For indicating the release force, the spring plate 18 includes also an indicator 21 which extends into a window 22 of the sliding member 10.

Upon rotation of the setscrew 11, the sliding member 10 moves in one direction (right) and effects a compression of the spring 9 or into the opposite direction (left) and relaxes the spring 9. In order to have here also means particularly indicating the position of the sole holders, the window 22 of the sliding member 10 is provided below a further window 23, of a housing part 24. Thus, by reference to markings within the window 23 one can read the sole holder position and can also view the window 22 through which is indicated the adjusted release force.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiment. A number of other possible embodiments exist which lie within the scope of the invention. For example if a standard sole is used it is not necessary that the normal position of the bell-crank shaped sole holders be adjustable. It would also be possible to separate the readings in certain special constructions.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or pivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A ski binding mounted on a ski, comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced, symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about separate generally vertical pivot axes located intermediate the ends thereof and fixed to housing means mounted on said ski, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders; and

a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders which are separate and offset from said pivot axes therefor, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally of a longitudinal center line of said ski than the other of said rollers, said other of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said one roller, sais axis for said otherof said rollers being offset toward said front of said ski boot sole from a theoretical line joining said pivot axis and said one roller on each of said sole holders.

2. In a ski binding part mountable on a ski and having symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about generally vertical axes fixed to housing means, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders, the improvement comprising a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally than the other of said rollers, said other one of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said one roller, said housing means including adjusting means movable longitudinally of said ski toward and away from said spring loaded structural part, said other arm of each of said sole holders including means received between and engaging said adjusting means and said spring loaded structural part so that a longitudinal movement of said adjusting means will effect a longitudinal movement of said structural part and a pivoting of each said sole holders about their respective pivot axes to adjust the lateral spacing between the laterally spaced rollers.

3. The improved ski binding part according to claim 2, wherein said longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part has a pair of longitudinally spaced bent ends, one of said bent ends engaging said means on each of said sole holders, the other of said bent ends defining a surface against which one end of a spring engages, the other end of said spring engaging said housi. The improved ski binding part according to claim 3, wherein said other of said bent ends has a bore therein; and

wherein said other end of said spring engages a spring plate mounted for longitudinal movement relative to a second adjusting means on said other of said bent ends.

5. The improved ski binding part according to claim 4, wherein said spring plate includes means defining an indicator positioned in a window in said structural part, saidwindow having indicia means positioned adjacent thereto for indicating the release force.

6. The improved ski binding part according to claim 5, wherein said window for indicating the release force is positioned in another window in said housing means; and

wherein said another window includes second indicia means positioned adjacent thereto so that the position of said indicator means relative to said first mentioned and said second indicia means will simultaneously indicate the release force and the position of said sole holders.

7. The improved ski binding part according to claim 4, wherein said second adjusting means comprises an externally threaded screw and said spring plate has a threaded opening therein receiving said screw therein; and

including means for preventing said spring plate from rotating with said screw.

8. in a ski binding part mountable on a ski and having symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about generally vertical axes fixed to housing means, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders, the improvement comprising a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally than the other of said rollers, said other one of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said one roller and, when said sole holders are in a condition of use wherein said rollers engage said front of said ski boot, the distance between the axes of the frontmost rollers on each of said sole holders is less than the distance between said pivot axes about which said sole holders are pivotally sup- 

1. A ski binding mounted on a ski, comprising: a pair of laterally spaced, symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about separate generally vertical pivot axes located intermediate the ends thereof and fixed to housing means mounted on said ski, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders; and a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders which are separate and offset from said pivot axes therefor, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally of a longitudinal center line of said ski than the other of said rollers, said other of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said one roller, sais axis for said other of said rollers being offset toward said front of said ski boot sole from a theoretical line joining said pivot axis and said one roller on each of said sole holders.
 2. In a ski binding part mountable on a ski and having symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about generally vertical axes fixed to housing means, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders, the improvement comprising a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally than the other of said rollers, said other one of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said onE roller, said housing means including adjusting means movable longitudinally of said ski toward and away from said spring loaded structural part, said other arm of each of said sole holders including means received between and engaging said adjusting means and said spring loaded structural part so that a longitudinal movement of said adjusting means will effect a longitudinal movement of said structural part and a pivoting of each said sole holders about their respective pivot axes to adjust the lateral spacing between the laterally spaced rollers.
 3. The improved ski binding part according to claim 2, wherein said longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part has a pair of longitudinally spaced bent ends, one of said bent ends engaging said means on each of said sole holders, the other of said bent ends defining a surface against which one end of a spring engages, the other end of said spring engaging said housing.
 4. The improved ski binding part according to claim 3, wherein said other of said bent ends has a bore therein; and wherein said other end of said spring engages a spring plate mounted for longitudinal movement relative to a second adjusting means on said other of said bent ends.
 5. The improved ski binding part according to claim 4, wherein said spring plate includes means defining an indicator positioned in a window in said structural part, said window having indicia means positioned adjacent thereto for indicating the release force.
 6. The improved ski binding part according to claim 5, wherein said window for indicating the release force is positioned in another window in said housing means; and wherein said another window includes second indicia means positioned adjacent thereto so that the position of said indicator means relative to said first mentioned and said second indicia means will simultaneously indicate the release force and the position of said sole holders.
 7. The improved ski binding part according to claim 4, wherein said second adjusting means comprises an externally threaded screw and said spring plate has a threaded opening therein receiving said screw therein; and including means for preventing said spring plate from rotating with said screw.
 8. In a ski binding part mountable on a ski and having symmetrically arranged, two arm bell crank sole holders which are pivotal about generally vertical axes fixed to housing means, one arm of each bell crank sole holder engaging a ski boot sole and the other arm engaging a longitudinally movable spring loaded structural part common to both of said bell crank sole holders, the improvement comprising a pair of rollers rotatably supported about generally vertical axes on each of said sole holders, one of said rollers being positioned more laterally than the other of said rollers, said other one of said rollers being located more to the front of said ski boot sole than said one roller and, when said sole holders are in a condition of use wherein said rollers engage said front of said ski boot, the distance between the axes of the frontmost rollers on each of said sole holders is less than the distance between said pivot axes about which said sole holders are pivotally supported. 